Fungal Acne Safe Checker

Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) is fed by certain skincare ingredients. Paste a product's ingredient list and we'll flag the fungal-acne triggers — the fatty acids, esters, polysorbates and ferments that feed the yeast.

🔴 Feeds Malassezia (avoid)🟢 Fungal-acne safe
Note: Fungal-acne (Malassezia) triggers are general guidance based on fatty-acid chain length and common community trigger lists, and are even more debated than comedogenicity. This tool is informational and not medical advice. If breakouts don't respond to a Malassezia-safe routine plus an antifungal, see a dermatologist.

What feeds fungal acne?

Malassezia is a yeast that lives on everyone's skin. In fungal acne it overgrows and feeds primarily on fatty acids with a chain length of roughly C11–C24. In practice that means most plant oils, butters, fatty acids and fatty alcohols, many esters (such as those ending in -stearate, -oleate, -palmitate, -myristate), polysorbates, sorbitan esters, lecithin, and fermented ingredients can all act as fuel.

What is safe?

Pure hydrocarbons such as squalane, mineral oil and petrolatum don't feed Malassezia, and short-chain esters like caprylic/capric triglyceride are generally considered safe. Most water-based humectants, actives (niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, BHA), silicones and clays are fine.

Want the full picture? Read our guide on what fungal acne is and how to get rid of it, or check whether a product also clogs pores with the comedogenic checker.